Teen, Charged With Four Slayings, Apparently Knew Victims

May 13, 1996

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) _ A teen-ager faces murder charges in the deaths of two adults and two little boys whose decomposed bodies were found in a remote cabin. The children were apparently left to starve after the adults were shot to death, authorities said.

Shaun Wilkins, 19, apparently knew the victims, authorities said. The killing was gang-related, said Darren Whiten, state Department of Public Safety secretary, but he would not give details.

Wilkins was arrested Saturday and charged with four counts of murder. He was held without bond.

The bodies of Johnny Ray Garcia, 4; his brother, Matthew Gene, 3; their mother, Cassandra Sedillo, 23; and her boyfriend, Ben Anaya Jr., 17, were found April 14 at the cabin near Torreon, N.M.

Medical examiners said the bodies had been there at least a month.

Anaya and Sedillo were shot to death, while the children died of starvation and dehydration, likely within a week, autopsies showed.

White said investigators believe whoever shot Anaya and Sedillo knowingly left the boys to die.

``It is our understanding that he (Wilkins) knew the kids were in the home,″ White said.

Wilkins has a long juvenile criminal record that includes a conviction for aggravated assault, The Albuquerque Tribune reported. He was paroled last year as authorities tried to ease overcrowding in the youth center where he was serving a two-year sentence. But, at the time of the killings, he was wanted on charges including burglary and assault.